Dordogne, Burgundy , where else?
Sep 8th, 2004, 04:50 AM
#1
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Dordogne, Burgundy , where else?
My husband and I are in the early planning stages of our trip to France in the Spring.
We know we want to start off in Dordogne region, go on to Burgundy and end up in St Remy de Provence (seeing friends and leaving from Marseille)
My question is where to spend about 4 extra nights. Should we spend it in the Auvergne region on the way from Dordogne to Burgundy? Can't seem to find much about this area. Other options may be Drome region, Ardeche or maybe someone has other suggestions.
We're kind of stumpted as to best way to optimize our experience. Nothing is jumping out at us at the moment.
Thanks in advance for any and all recommendations.
We know we want to start off in Dordogne region, go on to Burgundy and end up in St Remy de Provence (seeing friends and leaving from Marseille)
My question is where to spend about 4 extra nights. Should we spend it in the Auvergne region on the way from Dordogne to Burgundy? Can't seem to find much about this area. Other options may be Drome region, Ardeche or maybe someone has other suggestions.
We're kind of stumpted as to best way to optimize our experience. Nothing is jumping out at us at the moment.
Thanks in advance for any and all recommendations.
Sep 8th, 2004, 06:06 AM
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We are planning on 6 nights in the Dordogne region with Beynac as our base. This is a return visit for us. We feel in love with it and have lots we want to see yet.
In Burgundy we are thinking 4 nights but don't know if we need to break it up into 2 base areas. Thinking around or in Beaune.
We then have 4 days to play with before we end up in St Remy de Provence for 3 nights. We will be driving .
Hope that helps.
In Burgundy we are thinking 4 nights but don't know if we need to break it up into 2 base areas. Thinking around or in Beaune.
We then have 4 days to play with before we end up in St Remy de Provence for 3 nights. We will be driving .
Hope that helps.
Sep 8th, 2004, 06:25 AM
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Hi,
On your way from Beaune you will be passing Grenoble and Chamrousse.
See
http://www.grenoble-isere-tourisme.c...sh/default.asp
http://chamrousse.com/gb/
On your way from Beaune you will be passing Grenoble and Chamrousse.
See
http://www.grenoble-isere-tourisme.c...sh/default.asp
http://chamrousse.com/gb/
Sep 8th, 2004, 06:44 AM
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I liked the Central Massif/Auvergne region when I visited in April/May 2003. I found it to be interesting, beautiful and with fewer foreign tourists than other parts of France.
I found it odd that everyone assumed I was British. When I asked people said almost all of their English speaking tourists are Brits who spend the night on their way to the coast. Of course it makes sense. It's not as if I can tell the difference between a Parisian & Bordeaux French accent.
I think you might want to adjust your schedule if you can. It would be a better fit to put the area between the Dordogne and Burgundy. Otherwise you'll drive right through it to get to Burgundy then drive back through it on your way to St Rémy.
Le Puy-en-Velay is stunning. The church perched 85 meters on a steep volcanic core is a sight to behold. I drove north through Ambert and Issoire back to Le Puy-en-Velay. The drive was beautiful. Low rolling mountains covered in forest. Occasional pastures filled with cows, little shrines dotted here and there along the edges of fields.
The train ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Le Mont-Dore for a day trip was picturesque. You climb up out of the valley into the mountains. Le Mont-Dore has France's oldest operating inclined rail you can take to a pretty clearing with gorgeous views. There's also a suspended cable car that will take you near the top of Puy Sancy.
Clermont-Ferrand has a cathedral made of black lava stone. The strong stone allows for thinner and taller columns make for an exceptional height in the church. The old town has pedestrian shopping streets. To the east of the Cathedral there are antique shops.
Other towns in the area that I researched but didn't fit in were Murat, St Nectaire, Aurillac, Thiers, Vichy, Bourboule and Moulin. Each looked interesting, but I didn't have enough time for them all.
Cheeses to try are St Nectaire firm almost nutty tasting, Cantal like a cheddar and Forme Ambert an excellent blue cheese.
There's an old rail line that runs out of Bort-Les-Orgues if you're interested in a trip like that. I didn't choose that one it's diesel. I went with a coal fired one further south in Anduze.
I think the area has a lot going for it. I tried a few posts here when planning my trip. There was limited response as not many people have been to the area. In my mind that's a plus.
I found it odd that everyone assumed I was British. When I asked people said almost all of their English speaking tourists are Brits who spend the night on their way to the coast. Of course it makes sense. It's not as if I can tell the difference between a Parisian & Bordeaux French accent.
I think you might want to adjust your schedule if you can. It would be a better fit to put the area between the Dordogne and Burgundy. Otherwise you'll drive right through it to get to Burgundy then drive back through it on your way to St Rémy.
Le Puy-en-Velay is stunning. The church perched 85 meters on a steep volcanic core is a sight to behold. I drove north through Ambert and Issoire back to Le Puy-en-Velay. The drive was beautiful. Low rolling mountains covered in forest. Occasional pastures filled with cows, little shrines dotted here and there along the edges of fields.
The train ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Le Mont-Dore for a day trip was picturesque. You climb up out of the valley into the mountains. Le Mont-Dore has France's oldest operating inclined rail you can take to a pretty clearing with gorgeous views. There's also a suspended cable car that will take you near the top of Puy Sancy.
Clermont-Ferrand has a cathedral made of black lava stone. The strong stone allows for thinner and taller columns make for an exceptional height in the church. The old town has pedestrian shopping streets. To the east of the Cathedral there are antique shops.
Other towns in the area that I researched but didn't fit in were Murat, St Nectaire, Aurillac, Thiers, Vichy, Bourboule and Moulin. Each looked interesting, but I didn't have enough time for them all.
Cheeses to try are St Nectaire firm almost nutty tasting, Cantal like a cheddar and Forme Ambert an excellent blue cheese.
There's an old rail line that runs out of Bort-Les-Orgues if you're interested in a trip like that. I didn't choose that one it's diesel. I went with a coal fired one further south in Anduze.
I think the area has a lot going for it. I tried a few posts here when planning my trip. There was limited response as not many people have been to the area. In my mind that's a plus.
Sep 8th, 2004, 06:59 AM
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The Auvergne sounds like a good choice. Instead of autoroutes, starting from Beynac, you could follow the Dordogne to its source in the Massif Central. Freda White's classic "Three Rivers of France" will give you some guidance or inspiration.
Sep 8th, 2004, 08:28 AM
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The Auvergne is a natural between the Dordogne and Burgundy. Le Puy-en-Velay is definitely worth a stop. Besse-en-Chandesse is a <i>plus beaux villages de France</i>. But best might be to pick up the Michelin Green Guide for the area.
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